Most Hyundai Tiburon VINs open with KMH (South Korea, 1997–2008). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often U (97%); a 2008 Tiburon carries 8 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 17 recall campaigns and 560 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Tiburon VIN
Here is a real 2008 Hyundai Tiburon VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN KMHHN61DP8U280639 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Hyundai Tiburon VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Hyundai Tiburon we have on record, from 1997 to 2008, opens with the same three characters, KMH:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMH | 1997–2008 | South Korea | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Hyundai Tiburon it is not one number either — assembly moved between 3 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1997–2008 | 543 | |
| 4 | 2003–2007 | 7 | |
| 0 | 1997–2003 | 3 |
Counted from 551 dated Hyundai Tiburon VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Tiburon
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Hyundai Tiburon has not yet outlived: its 12 years still map one-to-one. All 12 model years of the Hyundai Tiburon, 1997 to 2008, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Tiburon VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 5 VINs the Hyundai Tiburon uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | H (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | N (60%) · M (40%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | D (80%) · F (20%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Tiburon VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Tiburon VIN: 560 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 17 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 560 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 12 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Tiburon
A Hyundai Tiburon VIN normally opens with KMH; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Hyundai Tiburon VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 17 recall campaigns and 560 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Tiburon.
What year is my Tiburon by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2008 Tiburon carries 8, a 2007 Tiburon carries 7, a 2006 Tiburon carries 6.
Where was my Tiburon built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 560 dated Hyundai Tiburon VINs it reads U 97%, 4 1%, 0 1%.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Tiburon VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 5 Hyundai Tiburon VINs here, H is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Hyundai Tiburon check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with KMH. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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